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88.5 WFDD Wins Four Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

88.5 WFDD Wins Four Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

by
WFDD STAFF

11:47am Apr 26, 2017

The Radio Television Digital News Association has announced the winners of the 2017 regional Edward R. Murrow Award. WFDD received honors in four categories. The organization honors the best work produced by radio, television and digital news organizations around the world.

Vernon Zellers, 77, of Walnut Cove, opens a box filled with bottled water from Duke Energy. Until recently, he was advised by state health officials not to drink his private well water because of elevated levels of hexavalent chromium and other toxic substances. He says he still doesn't trust that his water is safe. KERI BROWN/WFDD

Reporter Keri Brown researched test results of water samples collected by the state from the wells of residents that she interviewed, some showing extremely high levels of certain toxins. The problem, as her report shows, is that there are no standards from the state or the federal government on this particular substance, leaving many in the dark, not trusting their water, and wanting more answers.

Spend even a little time driving around the Camel City, and you’ll see 13th-century mythic heroes. Everywhere. Robin Hood. Little John. Maid Marian. Even Friar Tuck.

Winston-Salem resident Aaron Graff noticed this theme while cycling around town. And he’s not imagining things. It’s on street signs, neighborhoods, shopping centers: The Dash has a thing for Robin Hood, the outlaw of Sherwood Forest. But Aaron wants to know more:

“Why are there so many streets and neighborhoods and such that have a Robin Hood theme to their naming schemes?”

It's a good question, and a surprisingly tough one. But we dug in, and we have a few theories to run by you for this edition of Carolina Curious.

Morning Edition host Neal Charnoff leads the newscast on the latest news about North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2, commonly known as the “bathroom bill.” A political expert weighs in with sound, giving a broader context to the story, after the U.S. Justice Department threatened federal funding if the state didn’t amend the law.

The second story is an original spot news piece from reporter Sean Bueter. It’s a piece about the impact of federal regulation on e-cigarettes. Winston-Salem is home to tobacco giant Reynolds American. That’s followed-up by a workers rights march at Reynolds headquarters covered by Keri Brown, where protesters were angry about a recent audit showing safety and child labor violations against the tobacco farms that sell the product to the company. The story opens with the sound of protesters.

“Enough is enough,” one demonstrator says. “Take some of that profit and do right by the workers.”

WFDD competes in a region that includes large market radio stations in North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Regional winners automatically advance to the national Edward R. Murrow Awards competition, which will be announced in June.